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About this blog: I am a native of Alameda County, grew up in Pleasanton and currently live in the house I grew up in that is more than 100 years old. I spent 39 years in the daily newspaper business and wrote a column for more than 25 years in add... (More)

About this blog: I am a native of Alameda County, grew up in Pleasanton and currently live in the house I grew up in that is more than 100 years old. I spent 39 years in the daily newspaper business and wrote a column for more than 25 years in addition to writing editorials for more than 15 years. I have served as a director of many non-profits in the Valley and the broader Bay Area and currently serve as chair of Teen Esteem and on the advisory board of Shepherd?s Gate. I also served as founding chair of Heart for Africa and have travelled to Africa seven times to serve on mission trips. My wife, Betty Gail, has taught at Amador Valley High (from where we both graduated) since 1981. She and I both graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, as did both of my parents and my three siblings. Given that Cal tradition, our daughter went south to the University of Southern California and graduated with a degree in international relations. Since graduation, she has taken three mission trips and will be serving in the Philippines for nine months starting in September. (Hide)

Half pint anyone?

Uploaded: Apr 7, 2016

Getting away to Southern California for a few days of golf, relaxation and time with my bride, we had the privilege of staying at three four or five-star resorts and dined at each.
What was striking is that all three served deserts in casual dining rooms as well as fine dining rooms in quarter-pint or half-pint Mason jars. Kelcey’s bar & grill at the Pechanga resort used the Mason jars for both their pies and their cakes, while serving water in the full one-quart jars—guaranteed to send diners looking for the restroom.
The all-day restaurant at the La Costa Resort in Carlsbad served its cheesecake sampler in one-quarter pint jars, while the exclusive Monarch Bar Club at the St. Regis also served its lemon pond cake in a one-half jar.
You’d expect the pint jars at BBQ place such as Sauced in Livermore, but clearly it is fashionable across the dining scene.
Incidentally, enjoying breakfast at Aveo in the St. Regis, I was struck by the offerings of a number of smoothies—reminding me that Orange County is, indeed, different than the Bay Area.
Presumably that’s why McDonald’s is joining Burger King at totally moving away from tradition.
Here in Southern California, the home of the Big Mac and the Quarter-pounder with cheese is
adding Kale bowls to its breakfast menu. The SoCal locations are now serving an egg white and turkey sausage breakfast bowl with kale, spinach, bruschetta and cheese. Kale and Big Macs.
So McDonald’s is offering health food, while Burger King expands its menu by adding hot dogs—yes “Burger” King with grilled dogs.
What’s the world coming too?

Dept. of Transportation officials have joined the Union Pacific Railroad managers to evaluate how to avoid future issues in areas such as Niles Canyon where a mudslide derailed an ACE train earlier this month. What’s fortunate is nobody died when the train derailed after hitting the slide.
What impressed me during that time was how quickly the Union Pacific derailment team got on site with heavy rail-based equipment and removed the cars so the trains could run again. I should not have been surprised—without open rails, trains and cash grind to a halt. So, it’s in the company’s interest to respond quickly and efficiently to accidents.
Their crews did exactly that.
The two incidents last weekend served as a reminder of that need.

Posted by Oliver Richmond,
a resident of California Somerset,
on Apr 7, 2016 at 10:44 pm

Hello,

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. Year-round sunny weather, gorgeous beaches and an abundance of family-friendly attractions make Southern California one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. Encompassing the southern third of the Golden State, SoCal stretches west from the inland deserts and mountains to the temperate shores of the Pacific Ocean. Many of region’s cities and communities have enough sights and activities to serve as a travel destination in their own right, but it would be shame to visit the Southland without hitting the highlights. I am working in a Professional resume writing service and I am a passionate of travel. I got a chance to travel to this place and it is really wonderful. Thanks to an extensive freeway system, getting around is relatively easy, despite the occasional traffic jam. It’s possible to spend the morning surfing the waves and the afternoon skiing or hiking in the mountains. From its beautiful beaches and national parks to its world-class cultural attractions and amusement parks.